Box or case for sewing-machine attachments



(No Model,)

A. JOHNSTON.

BOX OR CASE FOR SEWING MACHINE ATTAGHMENTS.

No. 315,039 Patented Apr. 7, 1885.

N. PEYERS. Phow-Llmo m hen wasmu mn. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN JOHNSTON, OF OTTUMWA, IOW'A.

BOX OR CASE FOR SEWING- MACHINE ATTACHMENTS.

EBPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,039, dated April7, 1885.

Application filed January 17, 1885.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN JOHNSTON, of Ottumwa, in the county of Wapelloand State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boxesor Cases for Sewing-Machine Attachments and other Articles, whichimprovement is fully set forth in the following specification. V

This invention relates to a box or case having compartments or places toreceive and retain the several implements which it is to contain, andhas more particular reference to such a box or case adapted to hold aset of sewing-machine attachments, consisting of, say, a ruffler, atuck-marker, and five hemmers,(or four hemmers and a binder.) It will ofcourse be understood that the box may be adapted to receive a greater orless number of attachments, and the invention still be in whole or inpart employed.

The old style of box heretofore used for holding sewing-machineattachments had a comparatively deep body which contained all theattachments,being adapted to receive the same by having two pieces ofvelvet-covered wood fastened in said body,and a shallow lid which wasslipped over the mouth of said body, but was otherwise unconnected withthe latter. The box was made of paper, the edges were unprotected,andthe wooden pieces were fastened to the paper or pasteboard forming thebottom or sides. The improved box or case, havinga foundation of paperor pasteboard, is made in two parts of substantially equal depth. Saidparts are hinged together and a catch is provided for keeping the boxclosed. The edges and corners of the box are protected with metalstrips. Each part of the box is adapted to receive some of theattachments. The wooden pieces to be covered with Velvet are differentlyshaped from those before used, and they are fastened to a woodenbacking, which stiffens and strengthens the top or bottom of the box asit is placed in one or the other. It is not of course new to make boxesfor other purposes with two parts of nearly equal depth,nor to provideboxes with catches to hold them closed, nor to protect the corners andedges of paper and other boxes with metal; but in the improved box thereis novelty with respect to the interior arrangements. Each end of eachpart of the box has fastened thereto (No model.) 7

l a protector of thin sheet metal,which is folded are made integral withthese protectors, a pin to form the pintle passing through overlappinglugs on the two adjacent protectors, which lugs form the leaves of thehinge. The parts of The catch is a strip of spring metal having prongsformed integral or in one piece therewith, which prongs are driven intoone of the wooden pieces in order to attach the catch to the box,andhaving also an indentation,recess, or hole to slip over and engage apin'or head on the opposite part of the box.

, The general interior arrangement of the box has already beenexplained- The particular construction of the different parts and themode of securing the attachments will be hereinafter set forth.

The following is considered the best mode of applying the principle ofthe invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of this specification.

Figure l is a plan of the case or box open, with the sewing-machineattachments in place,

ted for clearness; Fig. 2, a central cross'section of the box closed,the attachments being removed; Fig. 3, an end view of the box closedFigs. 4 and 5, views in crosssection on linex m and y g respectively, ofthe wooden part of the bottom of the box; Fig. 6, a detail view insection, showing the spring-post for holding the tucker in place; Fig.7, asimilar view of the post for holding the presser-foot; Fig. 8, aplan of the catch before the prongs are bent; Fig. 9, a plan of one ofthe protectors or blanks ready to be applied to the end of the box, andFig. 10 an enlarged view, in horizontal section, of one corner of thebox.

The box, of paper or pasteboard, is formed in two parts, A and B, ofequal or approximately equal depth. In the bottom A is secured thewooden support fashioned to retain in place the hemmers orfolding-guides O, the ruffler D, and a supplemental presser-foot, E.This support consists .of the wooden face-pieces F G, glued or otherwisefastened on the wooden backing H, the support itself being glued or Theface-piece F has a sloping flat top on which the hemmers rest. Itsgeneral shape in crossthe box are thus hinged together at the ends.

around or bent over the edges, and the edges some of these attachmentshaving parts omitotherwise fastened in the bottom of the box.

section is trapezoidal, as shown in Fig. 2; but at one end (left hand,Fig. 1) it is cutaway to form a space for the ruffler, and near theinner end of this space at 1, (see Fig. 4,) it is cut away on the bottomto allow apart of the ruffler to run under, as indicated in dottedlines, Fig. 1. The face-piece G has also a sloping top; but it ispreferably slightly concave for sake of appearance or to leave more roomfor the attachments which are to be placed in thetop of the'box. Thegeneral crosssection is trapezoidal, (except for the concavity1nentioned,) and it is cut away at one end to increase the space for theruffler, and at 2, Fig. 4, is undercut to allow partof the ruftler toproject under.

groove, 3, inclined at the same angle as the top of the face-piece F,which groove receives the shanks of the folding-guides 0. It ispreferred tomake this groove in the piece G, although it is evident thatthe top and bottom of it could be made in separate pieces. The bottom ofthe groove forms a continuation of the top of the face-piece F. Theexposed surfaces are covered with velvet I. Generally, the groove 3 willsuffice to hold the henimers or folding-guides in place. The holding-barK may, however, be used where greater security is desired. To retainsaid bar in posi: tion, it is placed over screw-pins 4, fastened intothe face-piece F, and is held down by the nuts 6, the screw-pins passingthrough holes in the rod. The screw-pins 4 (and also the screw-pin 10and pin 11, hereinafter referred to) are attached each to a prongeddisk, 7, which is stamped out of sheet metahand forms a base to the pin,being fastened thereto by "upsetting the end of the pin after insertingit through a hole in the center of the disk. The prongs are driven intothe wood, and may be clinched. This fastening of the screw-pins in placemay be done before or after the different pieces are glued together, andbefore or after they are fastened in the paper or pasteboard foundationof the box. With regard to the holding-bar K, it will be noticed thatthe disks 7 raise it the proper distance above the velvet on theface-piece F. The

holding-bar K is or may be of spring metal, so as to be capable ofyielding slightly when the shanks are pushed in under it. The additional presserfoot E is placed on the pin 11, which is fastened in thebacking H. The top B or other part of the box is adapted to receive andsupport the tuck-marker L. The two face-pieces m n of a trianglarcross-section, (except that the sloping face is concave, as shown inFig. 2,) which cross-section is or may be uniform throughout the lengthof the said face-pieces, are glued or otherwise fastened at each edge ofthe backing P, leaving a suitable space between for receiving thetuckmarker L. They are covered with velvet, Q, and the backing with alabel, R, giving the necessary directions for using the attachments; orthe backing could also be covered with vel- Along the edge, adjacent tothe face-picee F is a narrow and deep vet. The backing and face piecesare glued or otherwise fastened in the top B of the box. The tuck-markerL is held in place by the screw-pin 10 and nut 31, the screw-pin beingfastened to the backing P, and passing through a slot in the plate 12,by which the attachment is secured on the work-plate of thesewingmachine. Instead of securing the tuckmarker in place by ascrew-pin, 10, and nut 31, a spring-post, S, fastened to the backing P,may be used for the purpose. It consists .of two spring-plates bentoutwardly at the top to form a retaining projection or bend 13-,

and at the bottom bent at right angles to forma base, 14, which isprovided with prongs 15, that can be forced into the'backing P andclinched.

To place the tuck-marker in position, the attaching-plate 12 is forcedover the two plates constituting the spring-post S (which passes throughthe slot therein) until the attachingplate has passed over the bends 13,which then spring out and retain it in position. The spring-plates willyield to allow the removal of the attachment. A fiat attachment can beplaced between the tuck-marker and the backing P, as shown, for theshirring or bed plate separator T. The two parts A B of the box arehinged together, the hinges being formed by overlapping lugs 25 on theprotectors U, of sheet metal, and the pins or pintles 16 passing throughsaid lugs, and having a head upset on each. There is a sheet-metalprotector, U,at each end of each part A or B of the box. In shape theyare all alike, the blank as it is stamped out being as shown in Fig. 9.The ends where the sides and ends of the box meet, (see Fig. 10,) andare then fastened by small tacks. The lips 19 and 20 are bent overthe-free edges of the sides and ends. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The catch Whas prongs 21, and an indentation, 22, in plate 23. The prongs beingbent so as to lie parallel with the body of the catch, the latter isfastened to the body by driving the prongs into the wood of face-piece Gand then driving a tack through the body of the catch into the box. Theplate 23 projects beyond the free edge of the bottom A, and when the boxis closed overlaps thetop B and engages the head of the tack 24, .fixedtherein, the head of the tack entering the indentation 28. The outsideof the box is covered with paper, velvet, or other suitable ma terial.It is evident, therefore, that modifications can be made in the detailswithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and that parts ofthe invention may be used separately. Of course the box could be usedwith or without modification to hold any articles to which it is or maybe suited.

Having now fully described the said invention and the manner of carryingthe same into effect, what I claim is- 1. In a box or case, a support tohold a series of attachments having fiat shanks, said support beingprovided with a narrow and ICO 17 and 18 are bent around the edges orcorners I deep groove to receive said shanks, and having a fiatbearing-surface to support the attachment outside of the groove,substantially as described.

2. The hemmer-support composed of facepieces, one having an inclinedflat top, and the other provided with a narrow and deep groove thebottom of which forms a continuation of said top, substantially asdescribed.

3. The support in the lower part or bottom of the box, provided with agroove and bearing outside said groove for retaining the hemmers orfolding-guides in place, and a deep space or well to contain therufflcr, substan tially as described.

4. The support in the uppert part or lid of the box, provided with aspace to receive a tuck-marker, and also with a retaining post or pinset in the middle of said space perpendicularly to the top of said upperpart or lid, and adapted to pass through a slot, for upholding thetuck-marker when the said lid is closed, substantially as described.

5. The two-part hinged box having the support in the lower part providedwith agroove, and a bearing outside the groove for retaining the hemmersor folding-guides in place, and

with a well or space for the ruffler, and the support in the upper partprovided with a space for a tuck-marker and a retaining post or pin forsecuring it in place, substantially as described.

6. In combination with the support for the hemmers 0r folding-guides,the bar and the screw pins and nuts for holding the bar in place, sothat the shanks of said hemmers or guides can be inserted under thesame, substantially as described.

7. A pin provided with a pronged disk for attaching the same to itssupport, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ALLEN JOHNSTON. Witnesses:

GEO. F. HALL, J. T. HAOKWORTH.

